(3) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. Addressing the reader, elderly Old Misery explains how she trapped Mr. Death in her apple tree and forced him to promise her eternal life--"which is why Misery will always be found in this here world." The rewardingly macabre story features predominantly black-and-white art exhibiting crosshatching (perhaps a nod to Edward Gorey's work) and the light touch of a New Yorker cartoon.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. A "meow"-less cat, a "woof"-less dog, and a "squeak"-less mouse seek the help of a witch-like old woman in hopes that she can "find you a spell / to make you all well." Things go hilariously wrong (hence the title) throughout this book, of which every aspect is just right: percussive, unpredictable rhymes; creepy-funny angular art; and a didn't-see-it-coming ending.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. While at a dinosaur exhibit, Dave's father refuses to believe the boy when he indicates that the replicas are alive, telling his son that "Allosaurus don't grin, Dave...It's just your imagination." It's a chuckle-inducing premise with a blah resolution. Ayto takes humorous liberties with dinosaur proportions, and the contrast between their enormity and Dave's diminutiveness (he's the size of a thumb) is awesome.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. A sleepless wolf, cast against type as a sweetie, sets out through the forest to learn where teddy bears come from. His confrontations with fairy-tale icons the Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood act as warm-ups for the story's big joke: the wolf doesn't recognize Santa Claus, who ultimately solves the problem. Pointy-lined mixed-media illustrations are effectively varied in composition.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. On the heels of The Cow That Laid an Egg comes this offering, in which cow Marjorie enters her daughter Daisy--a chicken in the eyes of everyone but her--in the farm's cows-only "Beautiful Baby Contest." The illustrations of bulbous-eyed characters are played for laughs, but the message of parental love, regardless of shared genetics, is unexpectedly moving.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. While on a museum field trip, young Captain Flinn is led to Gordon Gurgleguts's ship, just in time to help find the rest of his treasure. Flinn must also save the treasure--and Captain Gurgleguts--from Bag o' Bones Island's pirate dinosaurs. The story's narration and the angular, collage-style watercolor and ink illustrations are full of fun.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. When Marjorie the cow laments her ordinariness, the chickens come up with a plan to make her feel important. Their stunt works, though the funny and sweet ending suggests that the joke could be on the chickens. Energetic mixed-media collage illustrations on bright backgrounds are an apt match for the zany story.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. These fifty-six short fables, cautionary tales, and anecdotes tickle mind and funny bone with unexpected twists of logic. Ayto's angular drawings punctuate the pages with their own lighthearted take on wise men, fools, and tricksters. Coming from such sources as the Bible and Aesop, many of the stories will be familiar to adults (though there are no source notes).

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2008

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. One stormy night, Sam brings his ten sheep indoors to sleep, but when he tries to count them, he falls asleep. A knock on the door may mean that one sheep is still outside. Or does it? Like Sam's flock, listeners will see right through the shifty-looking stranger's flimsy disguise. Ayto's dynamic, cartoonlike pictures heighten the rhyming story's humor.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. When the witch's three children invade the park, the Eldest One helpfully turns a little girl into a frog (so she can rescue her capsized toy boat), but the witch child has no idea how to reverse his spell. The Middle One compounds the problem; finally, the Little One remembers one bit of real magic: "Mommy!" The brisk text reads equally well aloud or alone. Ayto's characters are wonderfully expressive.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2003

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. When mice invade three neighboring farmers' cornfields, Farmer Bluster and Farmer Boast (who have personalities that suit their names) construct elaborate but ineffective traps. Farmer Smart's method--a fat cat--is far more successful, and when the cat has kittens, there are plenty of mousers for everyone. Spiky ink and watercolor illustrations, happily reminiscent of early Raymond Briggs, accompany this lively, funny tale.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Russell Ayto. Tired of being the shortest kid, Alex asks everyone how to grow--but nothing works. Uncle Danny, the tallest person Alex knows, fills him in on the pitfalls of being vertically blessed and gives Alex some helpful advice: "You need to grow a bit on the inside." Alex stops wishing to be the tallest kid and becomes the happiest kid. The cartoony illustrations lighten the overly purposeful story.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) PS Dunbar uses rhyme to tell the story of a baby bird who falls out of the nest and narrowly escapes from a squirrel, bee, frog, cat, and dog before flying safely back to the nest. Preschoolers will respond to the slight tension of the story, but the exaggerated cartoon style of the illustrations is unattractive--for example, the bird's beak looks more like wide flabby lips.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.